Category: 2023

 14:39,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. United and caring: оne of Armenia's largest conglomerates, Galaxy Group of Companies, together with the Armenian Red Cross Society, initiates a humanitarian initiative aimed at supporting forcibly displaced Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. In this regard, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Armenian Red Cross Society and the Galaxy Group of Companies on October 11 at the headquarters of the Armenian Red Cross Society.

The memorandum was signed by Dr. Anna Yeghiazaryan, Secretary General of Armenian Red Cross Society, and Aram Khachatryan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Group of Companies, believing that care and responsibility are vital for people in these hard times for the world.

"We are all united and willing to provide humanitarian relief  to our fellow Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh. In this regard, I greatly appreciate our cooperation with the Armenian Red Cross Society that has already conducted tremendous work these days. This charitable action is not only a financial donation from the founders, but a collective support initiative from the Galaxy community, its companies and employees", said Aram Khachatryan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Group of Companies.

As part of the initiative, 5,000 families forcibly displaced from NK will receive 100 tons of food products in packages for daily needs and to withstand cold winter weather. The packages will be assembled  based on the principles of selecting the best product. The delivery of the packages to 5000 families will be carried out by 300 volunteers from the Group’s employees together with the Armenian Red Cross Society.

The initiative is implemented together with the companies which are part of Galaxy Group of Companies -  Chronograph, Gate2, IUNetworks, Megafood, Paul Armenia, Santafe, Teryan5, Time, Ucom and Yerevan Mall with substantial financial support from the founders. Organizational activities of the initiative will be carried out by AxelMondrian and Partners, and the selection of beneficiaries and distribution of packages will be organized with the support of the Armenian Red Cross Society.

"We welcome and highly appreciate the steps taken by the corporate sector to demonstrate social responsibility aimed at relieving the hardships of vulnerable groups as much as possible. I am confident that such an exemplary, comprehensive, multifaceted and continuous cooperation between a humanitarian organization and a group of business companies is an effective format for providing humanitarian assistance and increasing the resilience of communities," said Dr. Anna Yeghiazaryan, Secretary General of Armenian Red Cross Society.

The cooperation and preparations for the package delivery for the winter season have already started, and the distribution within the regions will start from the mid-October. The parties will present transparency and accountability reports to the public.

 17:27,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with Toivo Klaar, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.

The Head of the EU delegation to the Republic of Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos also participated in the meeting.

“Issues related to the process of normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations were discussed, its continuity was emphasized.

Reference was made to the humanitarian situation resulted by the forced displacement of more than 100,000 of our compatriots as a result of Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

 17:09,

YEREVAN, 12 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 12 October, USD exchange rate up by 2.49 drams to 397.71 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 3.28 drams to 422.29 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.14 drams to 4.10 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.14 drams to 488.98 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 330.87 drams to 23927.06 drams. Silver price up by 6.28 drams to 282.20 drams.

 14:55,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has presented facts of the numerous atrocities committed by the Baku regime against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh substantiating its request for provisional measures against Azerbaijan.

In his remarks to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Armenia’s council to the UN court Lawrence H. Martin explained that Armenians in NK had to “pick up and leave” and they had very compelling reasons to flee their ancestral homeland “rather than risk their lives under Baku’s iron fist”.

Martin reminded of the grave consequences of the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan emphasizing that Azerbaijan had been pursuing anti-Armenian policy long before the blockade imposed on December 12, 2022.

“To understand these reasons, we have to look back even beyond the start of the blockade last December. As we explained in Armenia’s Memorial, anti-Armenian hate is engrained in official State policy in Azerbaijan. It has created a society where ethnic Armenians hide their identity and to call someone Armenian is considered an insult. This deep hatred has motivated countless atrocities against ethnic Armenians, in Nagorno-Karabakh and elsewhere”,  Lawrence H. Martin said.

Martin reminded of the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan during the 44-day war in 2020, stating that Baku’s 19 September attack was “the culmination of a well-considered plan”. He also reminded of the decisions of the court all of which were ignored by the Azerbaijani regime.

“Last February, you ordered Azerbaijan to “take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions”. But nothing happened. Azerbaijan refused to comply, even as it claimed with its usual “up is down” double-speak that it was complying. Despite wide-spread condemnation from across the international community and the intense suffering of the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan left the so-called “eco-protestors” in place for more than another two months. Azerbaijan sent them home immediately after it installed a government checkpoint at the Hakari border bridge at the entrance to the Lachin corridor”, Armenia’s council to the world court said.

“There is a pressing need to stop and reverse the ongoing forced exodus of the local Armenian population, which amounts to ethnic cleansing, and to ensure the conditions for their safe return to Nagorno-Karabakh”, Martin said.

He also mentioned the Azeri attacks on farmers in Nagorno-Karabakh seeking to prevent harvest works, with the widespread shortages of food causing starvation.

Armenia has named the ten provisional measures it seeks the ICJ to indicate against Azerbaijan. The request was submitted by Armenia’s agent Yeghishe Kirakosyan during the world court oral proceedings on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

 “On the basis of its request for provisional measures dated 28 September 2023 and its oral pleadings, Armenia respectfully requests the court to indicate the following provisional measures pending its determination of this case on the merits:

1) “Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any measures which might entail breaches of its obligations under the CERD”;

2) “Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any actions directly or indirectly aimed at or having the effect of displacing the remaining ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, or preventing the safe and expeditious return to their homes of persons displaced in the course of the recent military attack including those who have fled to Armenia or third States, while permitting those who wish to leave Nagorno-Karabakh to do so without any hindrance”;

 3) “Azerbaijan shall withdraw all military and law-enforcement personnel from all civilian establishments in Nagorno-Karabakh occupied as a result of its armed attack on 19 September 2023”;

4) “Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the access of the United Nations and its specialized agencies to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not interfere with their activities in any way”;

5) “Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the ability of the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide humanitarian aid to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to address the other consequences of the recent conflict”;

6) “Azerbaijan shall immediately facilitate the full restoration of public utilities, including gas and electricity, to Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall refrain from disrupting them in the future”;

7) “Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking punitive actions against the current or former political representatives or military personnel of Nagorno-Karabakh”;

8) “Azerbaijan shall not alter or destroy any monument commemorating the 1915 Armenian genocide or any other monument or Armenian cultural artefact or site present in Nagorno-Karabakh”;

9) “Azerbaijan shall recognize and give effect to civil registers, identity documents and property titles and registers established by the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not destroy or confiscate such registers and documents”;

10) “Azerbaijan shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this Order within one month, as from the date of this Order, and thereafter every three months, until a final decision on the case is rendered by the Court,” Kirakosyan said.

 15:10,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has named the ten provisional measures it seeks the ICJ to indicate against Azerbaijan. The request was submitted by Armenia’s agent Yeghishe Kirakosyan during the world court oral proceedings on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

 “On the basis of its request for provisional measures dated 28 September 2023 and its oral pleadings, Armenia respectfully requests the court to indicate the following provisional measures pending its determination of this case on the merits:

1) “Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any measures which might entail breaches of its obligations under the CERD”;

2) “Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any actions directly or indirectly aimed at or having the effect of displacing the remaining ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, or preventing the safe and expeditious return to their homes of persons displaced in the course of the recent military attack including those who have fled to Armenia or third States, while permitting those who wish to leave Nagorno-Karabakh to do so without any hindrance”;

 3) “Azerbaijan shall withdraw all military and law-enforcement personnel from all civilian establishments in Nagorno-Karabakh occupied as a result of its armed attack on 19 September 2023”;

4) “Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the access of the United Nations and its specialized agencies to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not interfere with their activities in any way”;

5) “Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the ability of the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide humanitarian aid to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to address the other consequences of the recent conflict”;

6) “Azerbaijan shall immediately facilitate the full restoration of public utilities, including gas and electricity, to Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall refrain from disrupting them in the future”;

7) “Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking punitive actions against the current or former political representatives or military personnel of Nagorno-Karabakh”;

8) “Azerbaijan shall not alter or destroy any monument commemorating the 1915 Armenian genocide or any other monument or Armenian cultural artefact or site present in Nagorno-Karabakh”;

9) “Azerbaijan shall recognize and give effect to civil registers, identity documents and property titles and registers established by the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not destroy or confiscate such registers and documents”;

10) “Azerbaijan shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this Order within one month, as from the date of this Order, and thereafter every three months, until a final decision on the case is rendered by the Court,” Kirakosyan said.

 14:20,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Time and again, Azerbaijan has shown not only that it is willing to mislead the international community, but also that it is willing to misrepresent the International Court of Justice orders in doing so, or even to use them to justify its own violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, Armenia’s agent before the ICJ Yeghishe Kirakosyan said in his opening remarks during the world court oral proceedings on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

Kirakosyan said that in these circumstances, nothing other than targeted, unequivocal provisional measures protecting the rights of the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will suffice to prevent the ethnic cleansing Azerbaijan has perpetrated from continuing and becoming irreversible.

Below is the transcript of Kirakosyan’s speech at the ICJ hearing.

“Madam President, distinguished Judges of the Court, it is an honor to appear before you today as the Agent of the Republic of Armenia. 

“Less than nine months ago, I stood at this podium and warned that Azerbaijan was putting in motion a plan to ethnically cleanse Nagorno-Karabakh of all ethnic Armenians. Madam President, it pains me greatly to say – that has now materialized.

“After a nine-month blockade, maintained in flagrant violation of the Court’s Orders and in the face of widespread international condemnation, on 19 September, Azerbaijan launched a full-scale attack on Nagorno-Karabakh. It then cynically opened the Lachin Corridor for the first time in nine months only to let out more than 100,000 fleeing ethnic Armenians. Despite comprising for millennia the great majority of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, almost no ethnic Armenians remain in Nagorno-Karabakh today. If this is not ethnic cleansing, Madam President, I do not know what is.

“I expect my counterpart will tell you this afternoon that Azerbaijan is committed to “reconciliation” and a “peaceful future” with ethnic Armenians. But if those words sound familiar to you, it is because he said the exact same thing nine months ago, after which Azerbaijan continued to deliberately interrupt vital public utilities and starve the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh for another eight months, before brutally attacking them and causing them to flee their ancestral home.

“I expect my counterpart will tell you that Azerbaijan will permit those it considers its citizens to return. He promised the same thing in October 2021 when he claimed that, in areas that had been transferred to Azerbaijan in 2020, Azerbaijan was  “committed to the return of displaced persons, regardless of their national or ethnic origin.” Two years later, not a single ethnic Armenian has been permitted to return to those areas, and instead virtually all remaining ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh have been forced to flee their homes.

“I expect my counterpart will also tell you that Azerbaijan will treat any ethnic Armenian who returns in accordance with Azerbaijan’s obligations under the CERD. He promised treatment of ethnic Armenians in accordance with the CERD in October 2021 as well. Two provisional measures orders by the Court did not deter Azerbaijan from escalating its violations of the CERD.

“Madam President, distinguished Judges of the Court, let me be perfectly clear: since September 2020, Azerbaijan has been taking steps to cleanse Nagorno-Karabakh of ethnic Armenians, and it has been doing so while Armenia’s claims under the CERD are pending before the Court. Political considerations may have prevented the international community from acting to stop it, but the reality of such ethnic cleansing is crystal clear to all.

“Azerbaijan’s accountability for violations will be determined at the merits stage of this case. But you can still make a meaningful difference on the ground today. There is still time to prevent the forced displacement of ethnic Armenians from becoming irreversible, and to protect the very few ethnic Armenians who remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as those who have been abducted and are currently unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan’s prisons.

“Madam President, distinguished Judges of the Court, Azerbaijan’s cynicism crosses any imaginable boundary. It complains that Armenia’s claims before this Court are “contrary to the norms and principles of international law,” and asserts that such actions  “constitute the main threat to establish peace, security and justice in the region,” and alleges that Armenia is “not interested in the process of peace and normalization with Azerbaijan.” Such remarkable stance is in stark conflict with the very foundations of the international legal order, which is based on the premise that disputes should be resolved by peaceful means only. And it reflects the way Azerbaijan prefers to resolve its disputes, that is by resorting to the illegal use of force. Is this how Azerbaijan understands peace and security? 

“Before I conclude by outlining the presentation of Armenia’s case this morning, please allow me one final point. Time and again, Azerbaijan has shown not only that it is willing to mislead the international community, but also that it is willing to misrepresent the Court’s Orders in doing so, or even to use them to justify its own violations of the CERD. In these circumstances, nothing other than targeted, unequivocal provisional measures protecting the rights of the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will suffice to prevent the ethnic cleansing Azerbaijan has perpetrated from continuing and becoming irreversible; to safeguard Armenians’ millennia long enduring cultural presence in Nagorno-Karabakh from being eradicated, as was already done in Nakhichevan and is being done elsewhere in Azerbaijan; and to protect the abducted political-military leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh from fabricated criminal charges. If your provisional measures retain any ambiguity whatsoever, Azerbaijan will exploit them. And in so doing, it will ensure that the ethnic Armenian presence and history in Nagorno-Karabakh are permanently wiped out.  While we do not do so lightly, it is in these circumstances that we approach the Court for the third time.

“The remainder of Armenia’s presentation this morning will be structured as follows:

“First, Mr. Martin will set out the facts compelling Armenia’s request.

“Second, Professor Sicilianos will explain why Armenia’s requests fall within the jurisdiction of the Court, why the rights for which protection is sought are plausible, and how those rights are linked to the provisional measures requested.

“Third, Ms. Macdonald will demonstrate the ongoing irreparable prejudice and urgency necessitating the indication of provisional measures.

“Fourth, Professor Murphy will explain why each of the first nine provisional measures requested by Armenia is necessary to protect the rights of ethnic Armenians.

“Fifth, Professor d’Argent will explain why the tenth and final provisional measure requested by Armenia is equally necessary and offer certain concluding remarks about Armenia’s third request for provisional measures.

“Finally, I will return to the podium to read Armenia’s final submissions.

“I thank you, Madam President, distinguished Members of the Court, for your attention and careful consideration of Armenia’s Request. I now kindly ask that you invite Mr. Martin to address the Court.”

 17:02,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan has met with European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar.

In a statement, Grigoryan said he discussed with the EU envoy issues related to regional security and stability.

“On October 12, I received European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar. During the meeting we discussed issues related to regional security issues and preservation of stability. We discussed the preparatory work for the upcoming trilateral meeting in Brussels,” Grigoryan said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to meet with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev later in October in Brussels at the mediation of President of the European Council Charles Michel.

 15:20,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Arusyak Julhakyan has expressed confusion that the rapporteur on a topic related to xenophobia and authoritarianism at PACE represents Azerbaijan, a country which is famous for its xenophobia and authoritarianism, a country which just very recently ethnically cleansed the entire indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Julhakyan made the remarks during the PACE autumn session.

“Today we address the pressing concern that threatens the very foundation of democracy and human rights.

“Far-right ideology, often characterized by nationalism, xenophobia, and authoritarianism has been on the rise in many parts of the world.

“This not only threatens the principles of equality and justice, but also undermines the very essence of democracy and human rights that have been hard-fought and cherished for generations.

“In recent years we have witnessed the alarming rise of hate crimes, discrimination and violence associated with far-right ideology. These acts directly threaten the human rights of individuals who are targeted based on their ethnicity, religion or beliefs. From this point of view it is very important that we as an organisation discuss the issue, trying to find possible solutions.

“Being frank, dear colleagues, I'm a little bit confused seeing that the rapporteur on a topic related to xenophobia and authoritarianism represents a country which is famous for its xenophobia and authoritarianism, a country which just very recently ethnically cleansed a whole population of Armenians living in their ancestral homeland and an ethnic cleansing which was the final chord after nearly 10 months of blockade and starvation of those people.

“The report brings examples of different countries, but nothing is said about Azerbaijan itself.

“For example, it could refer to the latest report on Azerbaijan of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), in which is mentioned the following. I quote,

"The Committee is deeply concerned about incitement to racial hatred and the propagation of racist stereotypes against persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin, including on the internet and social media, as well as by public figures and governmental officials, and the lack of detailed information on investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sanctions of such acts. The Committee is also concerned about reports that school textbooks promote prejudice and incite racial hatred, particularly against ethnic Armenians, the marginalization of ethnic minorities in history, education in Azerbaijan."

“However, colleagues, going back to the topic of far-right ideology, let me say that as responsible politicians and advocates for justice, we must stand together against extremism, hate and intolerance. We must defend the democratic principles that have allowed us to progress as societies. We must work tirelessly to ensure that human rights are preserved for all, regardless of their background or beliefs.

“Only by doing so can we build a future that is truly inclusive, just and democratic for all,” the Armenian delegate said.

 17:33,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a new resolution calling upon Azerbaijan, among other countries, to notify PACE and the Venice Commission within three months about the use of Pegasus and other similar spyware.

There is strong evidence that Azerbaijan has also used it, including during the conflict with Armenia, the resolution said.

“The Assembly further notes that according to the “Pegasus Project” revelations, Azerbaijan has also used Pegasus, including against journalists, independent media owners and civil society activists. Recent reports have disclosed its use in connection with the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, against 12 persons working in Armenia, including an Armenian government official, in what appears to be an example of transnational targeted surveillance,” the PACE resolution reads.

Citing “mounting evidence” that spyware has been used for illegitimate purposes by several Council of Europe member states, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has urged five governments to provide information on their use of such spyware within three months, and fully investigate all cases of abuse.
Approving a resolution on Pegasus and similar spyware and secret state surveillance, the Assembly urged Poland, Hungary, Greece, Spain and Azerbaijan to promptly and fully investigate all cases of abuse of spyware, sanction any they find, and provide redress to victims.

The resolution, based on a report by Pieter Omtzigt (Netherlands, EPP/CD), also called on other member states which seem to have acquired or used Pegasus – including Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – to clarify their use of it, and the mechanisms in place to oversee it, within three months.

The Assembly said secret surveillance of political opponents, public officials, journalists, human rights defenders and civil society for purposes other than those listed in the European Convention on Human Rights, such as preventing crime or protecting national security, would be a clear violation of the Convention.

Given its intrusiveness, states should refrain from using such spyware until their laws and practice on secret surveillance are in line with the Convention and other international standards, as assessed by Council of Europe legal experts. In any case, they should only use it for “exceptional situations as a measure of last resort”, the Assembly said. They should also avoid exporting it to countries where there was a substantial risk it might be used for repression or human rights abuses.

The parliamentarians also asked for information from Israel, a PACE observer state, on how it ensures that Pegasus, which is marketed by an Israel-based company, is not exported to countries where it could be used to violate human rights. Morocco, a PACE “partner for democracy” state which is alleged to have used Pegasus in Spain, was also asked to provide information on and investigate its use.